Self-sealing drier means



United States Patent 3,330,098 SELF-SEALING DRIER MEANS Herbert Delin, 92-69 Shore Road,

Brooklyn, N.Y. 11220 Filed June 23, 1965, Ser. No. 466,252 3 Claims. (Cl. 55-314) This invention relates to self sealing drier and filter means for refrigerator systems and more particularly to means for inserting and removing a screw type drier cartridge without losing any of the refrigerant.

All refrigerator systems require a drying tank or cartridge to remove the moisture from the refrigerant. These driers usually are cartridges which are conventionally inserted in the refrigerant line by breaking the line and connecting the cartridge into the line with solder or flare connections.

Therefore, to insert a drier cartridge, it is necessary to break the line which causes the loss of all refrigerant. After the new drier has been inserted and joints soldered, it is necessary to evacuate the system and recharge the system with refrigerant. This is a very tedious and expensive process.

The present invention provides a new and improved fitting means and screw type drier cartridge means wherein the cartridge drier is adapted to be inserted or removed in the line fitting by screwing in or out without breaking the seal of the system and losing the refrigerant which may be gas or liquid.

The invention generally comprises a fitting having a self sealing block which is normally sealed to permit the conventional flow of refrigerant. When the cartridge is inserted in the fitting it pushes back the sealing block and forces the gas to go through the cartridge. When the cartridge is removed, the sealing block automatically seals so that no refrigerant is lost and the system does not have to be evacuated and recharged each time a new drier cartridge is installed.

Accordingly, a principal object of the invention is to provide new and improved drier means for refrigerator systems.

Another object of the invention is to provide new and improved drier means for refrigerator systems comprising a self sealing fitting in the refrigerant line and a drier cartridge adapted to be inserted in said fitting.

Another object of the invention is to provide new and improved self sealing fitting means adapted to receive a cartridge.

Another object of the invention is to provide new and improved drier cartridge means which is adapted to be inserted in a fitting in the refrigerant line without causing any leaks in the line.

Another object of the invention is to provide new and improved self sealing drier means for refrigerator systems comprising, a fitting having two connection nipples adapted to be connected to a refrigerator line, a port in said fitting having internal threads, said port extending perpendicular to the axis of said connection nipples, an internal seat at the inner side of said threads, a spring loaded sealing block adapted to fit against said internal seat to seal said port and maintain communication betweeen said two connection nipples, said spring loaded block being adapted to be pushed to the other side of said connection nipples from said internal seat, a drier filter cartridge having external threads adapted to fit said internal threads, a bar member mounted in said cartridge along the axis thereof and dividing said cartridge, said bar member having a neck portion extending past said threaded cartridge portion sufiiciently to push said spring loaded block to its open position, a pair of spring loaded wing members in said bar member, said wing members being adapted to extend when said cartridge is fully inserted in said fitting so as to extend across the normal refrigerator line to block off the refrigerant path and force said refrigerant to pass through said cartridge, said bar having a plurality of holes to permit said refrigerant to pass, and said cartridge being filled with desiccant to remove the moisture from said refrigerant.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent from the following specification and drawings of which:

FIGURE 1 is a side sectional view partially in section of an embodiment of the invention before the cartridge is inserted.

FIGURE 2 is a sectional plan view of the embodiment of the invention.

FIGURE 3 is a detail view showing the spring loaded wings.

Referring to the figures, the invention comprises a fitting 1 which is adapted to be inserted in the existing refrigerant line 2 by means of nipple connections 3 and 4. The fitting has a port 5 having internal threads 6, the axis of the port extending perpendicular to the axis of the refrigerant line. On the inside of the threaded portion is a seat 7 which in normal operation is sealed by the spring loaded block 8 which is spring loaded against the seat by means of spring 10. The block 8 has bevelled edges 11, which fit the seat 7 so as to seal the refrigerant line when no cartridge is inserted.

The drier cartridge 14 has external threads 15 which are adapted to fit the internal threads 6 of the fitting 1, and preferably has an O-ring gasket 17. The cartridge 14 is filled with desiccant 18 or other drying agents.

Inside the cartridge is fixedly mounted a bar 20 which has a plurality of apertures 21 and 22 at one end. The bar or position divides the cartridge at this end. The neck of the bar extends beyond the end of the threaded internal portion of the cartridge sufiiciently to push the block 8 to the open position, that is to the left of the refrigerant line in FIGURE 1, when the cartridge is inserted. The desiccant is contained in the cartridge with a wire mesh filter 25.

In the neck end of the bar are mounted spring loaded wings 23 and 24 which are adapted to block off the existing refrigerant line and force the refrigerant through the drier cartridge as will be explained, see FIGURE 3.

The cartridge is inserted by engaging the external thread 15 into the internal thread 6 and through the fitting 1 and screwing the cartridge clockwise into the fitting. The cartridge is screwed until a good seal is obtained and as the cartridge is screwed in, the block 8 is forced back by bar 20 permitting the refrigerant to fiow into the drier filter.

In order to force all the refrigerant through the drier, the bar 20 has a pair of spring loaded wings 23 and 24 which are adapted to close 0d the normal path of the refrigerant flow when they are extended, as shown in FIG- URES 2 and 3, thereby forcing the refrigerant to flow through the cartridge. The wings have bevelled edges to fit the seats 7 and 11 in the fitting.

The wings are adapted to rock under the combined spring and cam action to seat themselves. Alternatively, they may be made to slide at an angle corresponding to the seat surfaces or with a compound motion like some car windows.

When it is desired to screw the cartridge out of the fitting, when the bevelled edges of the wing members cam the wings back into the bar member and as the bar is screwed out of the fitting then the block 8 assumes the sealed position by means of spring 10.

In its inserted position, FIGURE 2, the cartridge must be lined up so that the extending wings 23 and 24 extend across the path of the normal refrigerant flow indicated by the dotted circle 2' corresponding to line 2. The carr 3 tridge may be lined up by placing marks on the cartridge and on the fitting 1 so that the cartridge is screwed into the pro-per position.

' Therefore, the present invention provides new and improved self sealing drier means for refrigerator systems so that a drier cartridge may be inserted and removed in the system without making any solder connections and without breaking the seal of the system.

I claim:-

1. Self sealing'drier means for refrigerator systems comprising,

a fitting having two connection nipplesadapted to be connected to a refrigerator line,

a port in said fitting having internal threads, said port extending perpendicular to the axis of said connection nipples,

an internal seat at the inner side of said threads,

a spring loaded sealing block adapted to fit against said internal seat to seal said port and maintain communication between said two connection nipples,

'said spring loaded block being adapted to be pushed to the other side of said connection nipples from said internal seat, a

a drier cartridge having external threads adapted to fit said internal threads,

a bar member mounted in said cartridge along the axis thereof and dividing said cartridge,

said bar member having a neck portion extending past said threaded cartridge portion sufficiently to push said spring loaded block to its open position,

a pair of spring loaded wing members in said bar member, said wing members being adapted to extend when said cartridge is fully inserted in said fitting so as to extend across the normal refrigerator line to block off the refrigerant path and force said refrigerant to pass through said cartridge, said bar having a plurality of holes to permit said refrigerant to pass, and said cartridge being filled with desiccant to remove the moisture from said refrigerant.

2. Self sealing drier means for refrigerator systems comprising,

a fitting having two connection nipples adapted to be connectedto a refrigerator line,

a port in said fitting having internal threads, said port extending perpendicular to the axis of said connection nipples,

an internal seat in said port,

a spring loaded sealing block adapted to fit against said internal seat to seal said port and maintain communication between said two connection nipples,

said spring loaded block being adapted to be pushed to the other side of said connection nipples from said internal seat,

a drier cartridge having external threads adapted to fit said internal threads,

means in said cartridge to unseal said block and means in said cartridge to seal the normal refrigerant line and force the refrigerant through said cartridge.

3. Self sealing drier means for refrigerator systems comprising,

a self sealingfitting connected to a a port in said fitting,

a spring loaded sealing block adapted to seal said port,

a drier cartridge adapted to fit said fitting,

a bar member mounted in said cartridge along the axis thereof,

said bar member extending out of said cartrdige sufiiciently to push said spring loaded block to open position,

refrigerator line,

expansion means in said bar member adapted to open when said cartridge is fully inserted in said fitting so as to extend across the normal refrigerator line to block off the refrigerant path and force said refrigerant to pass through said cartrdige, said bar having a plurality of holes to permit said refrigerant to pass,

and said cartridge being filled with desiccant to remove the moisture from said refrigerant.

References Cited 7 UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,753,719 8/1956 Line 5s 337 3,113,233 1/1964 Small.

FOREIGN PATENTS 629,957 4/1963 Belgium.

REUBEN FRIEDMAN, Primary Examiner.

I. ADEE, Assistant Examiner. 

2. SELF SEALING DRIER MEANS FOR REFRIGERATOR SYSTEMS COMPRISING, A FITTING HAVING TWO CONNECTED NIPPLES ADAPTED TO BE CONNECTED TO A REFRIGERATOR LINE, A PORT IN SAID FITTING HAVING INTERNAL THREADS, SAID PORT EXTENDING PERPENDICULAR TO THE AXIS OF SAID CONNECTION NIPPLES, AN INTERNAL SEAT IN SAID PORT, A SPRING LOADED SEALING BLOCK ADAPTED TO FIT AGAINST SAID INTERNAL SEAT TO SEAL SAID PORT AND MAINTAIN COMMUNICATION BETWEEN SAID TWO CONNECTION NIPPLES, 